Daily Bread's Fall Drive struggles to reach goals

TORONTO, Oct 8 /CNW/ - With only a week and a half left to give in the Fall Drive, less than half of the $500,000 and 500,000 pounds of food that Daily Bread Food Bank needs has been raised. With an extra 123,000 client visits last year, the need in Toronto is stronger than ever.

"Every donation counts. No matter how big, or how small. One of our donors yesterday summed it up best: 'my worst day is probably the best day for so many others, so I do what I can to help'. We really hope that you do what you can to help people struggling with hunger in Toronto", says Gail Nyberg, Executive Director at Daily Bread Food Bank.

When you are shopping for Thanksgiving dinner this weekend, please consider picking up an extra bag of food. Our most needed food items include peanut butter, baby food and formula, pasta, rice, cans of soup and stew, canned tuna, canned fruit and vegetables or macaroni and cheese.  Donations of nutritious, non-perishable food can be dropped off at any fire hall as well as any Loblaws, Loblaw Great Food, valu-mart, No Frills or Real Canadian Superstore until October 18. Financial donations can be made securely, online at www.dailybread.ca or by calling 416-203-0050. Cheques can be mailed to Daily Bread Food Bank at 191 New Toronto Street, Toronto ON M8V 2E7.

If you can't give money, how about your time? A new shift has opened up for volunteers on Thanksgiving Monday at our Public Food Sort from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Advanced registration is required. Please call 416-203-0050 to register or find out more information.

The rest of the Public Food Sorts for the weekend are full, but media are welcome to come down on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. as well as on Monday from 9 a.m to 11 a.m. for a photo opportunity. Mayoral candidates George Smitherman and Rocco Rossi will be sorting food donations from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Monday in a friendly competition to see who can sort the most food.

Daily Bread Food Bank is a non-profit, charitable organization that is fighting to end hunger in our communities. As Canada's largest food bank, Daily Bread serves people through neighbourhood food banks and meal programs in over 170 member agencies across Toronto. We know providing food to hungry people won't solve poverty; that's why Daily Bread does more. We work to support people by providing job training; researching and educating people on issues of poverty and moving forward with innovative and realistic solutions that will help people break away from poverty.

Daily Bread Food Bank is fighting to end hunger in our communities.

For further information:

Sarah Anderson
Communications & Marketing Officer
T: 416-203-0050 ext. 238
E: [email protected]
M: 416-450-2196